Amusement apparatus



March 28, 1 939. B. E. MILLS I I AMUSEMENT APPARATUS 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

March 28, 1939.

B. E. MILLS AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 28, 1939. B. 5.. MILLS 2,152,598

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 infen 'fi 1 $67? (if.

B. E. MILLS March 28, 1939.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 28, 1939.

B. E. MILLS AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I ffrzfn z @e/i 6 /72 [1,

March 23, 1939. B. E, MILLS 2,152,598

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1955 6'Sheets -Sheet 6 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT APPARATUS of Illinois Application December 2, 1935, Serial No. 52,446

10 Claims.

This invention relates to amusment apparatus such as pin ball games and the like, and more particularly to a novel form of play and score indicating mechanism which may be used with apparatus of this type.

An important object of the invention is to provide a score indicating mechanism for an amusement apparatus of the character referred to, which is adapted to indicate to the operator in advance of each play or operation the particular play which must be made and the point or score which will be obtained for the making of that particular play.

Another object of the invention is to provide a score indicating mechanism of the character referred to which is adapted, upon successive operations of the apparatus, to change the particular play indicated as the one to be made upon the next play, and also to change the indicated point or score which will be given for the making of such play.

A further object of the invention is to provide a check or token dispensing device which will operate in conjunction with the game apparatus and the novel indicating mechanism to deliver checks or tokens in numbers corresponding to the point or score made by the operator upon each play, which checks or tokens may be used as counters and also for further operation of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention wil be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein I have disclosed the preferred form in which I have thus far contemplated applying the principles of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pin ball game apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the variable score indicating mechanism, a portion of the plate on which such mechanism is mounted being broken away to show the underlying parts;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through a portion of the variable score indicating mechanism, the view being taken on a plane immediately below the numeral bearing dials;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the apparatus taken just inside of the front wall of the table frame;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the score indicating mechanism, the view being taken as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section illustrating the mounting of one of the numeral bearing dials,

the section being taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section through the score indicating mechanism, the section being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5; 5

Fig. 8 is a detail elevational view illustrating a portion of the drive mechanism which actuates the score indicating device; and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram illustrating the various electrical circuits which are provided for 10 actuating the check or token delivery mechanism.

Referring to the general View of Fig. 1, the pin table frame consists of side frame members II,

a back wall l2, and a front wall l3, these parts being suitably joined together to form a rigid frame unit. The top of the table is closed by a glass plate l4, below which is positioned a playing board l5 which, in accordance With the usual construction, is mounted on a slight incline, so that a ball projected to the upper end thereof will roll downwardly toward the front of the board. A ball is projected toward the upper end of the board by a manually operable plunger I6 which drives it along a channel ll. In the particular embodiment shown board [5 is provided 5 with a plurality of openings which are distinguished from one another by means of colored portions on the board which surround such openinsg. Two openings H! are provided, which are outlined in a background of blue, as indicated at l9. Two openings 2| are provided which are identified by a background of green as indicated at 22. Similarly there are two openings 23 which are positioned in a field of yellow coloring 24. The two remaining openings 25 are set off in a 5 background of red, as indicated at 26. These various openings are more or less surrounded by upstanding pins 21 which are struck by the ball as it rolls downwardly toward the front of the board. If the ball fails to fall into one of the openings identified by one of the colors mentioned, it ultimately rolls into a slotted opening 28. A ball rolling into any one of these openings is released by shifting a gate panel (not shown), which is slidably supported immediately below board IS, the movement of such panel bringing openings therein into registration with corresponding openings in board I5, thereby allowing the ball to fall through the board. The ball thus released is directed by troughs (not shown) positioned beneath the board to an elevating device (not shown) by which it is returned to a point in channel I! immediately in front of plunger Hi. This elevating device is actuated by a manually operable plunger 29 which is positioned in the front frame wall |3 immediately below plunger IS. The gate panel (not shown) which eifects release of the ball from the board is shifted to and from ball releasing position by mechanismv which is operated from a shaft 3| which projects through a collar 32 which is carried in the front frame wall l3, the projecting end of said shaft being provided with an arm 33 which may be depressed to efiect turning of the shaft. The mechanism for operatively connecting shaft 3| with the gate panel will be described later. In the embodiment shown the apparatus is intended for coin operation, a coin slot plate 34 being provided for receiving a coin which is directed to a suitable coin release mechanism (not shown) which is adapted to release shaft 3|.

In accordance with my invention, a novel indicating mechanism is provided whereby certain values are identified with the various openings on the board which are distinguished from one another by the colors mentioned. This mechanism is so designed that the value which is assigned to the board openings identified by a certain color may be changed upon each play, this change being made insuch manner that the operator is informed in advance of each play of the point or score which will be obtained on the next play provided a ball is directed to the opening which is identified with the score indicated. As an additional feature of the invention, I prefer to combine with this Variable play and score indicating device a token dispensing mechanism which will operate to deliver checks or tokens to the operator in numbers corresponding to the score which he has made.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a plate 35 is positioned near the front of the table between a pair of frame members 36, to which it is secured by screws 31. This plate extends com.- pletely across the front portion of the frame and provides support for the main parts of the variable score indicating mechanism. It is covered by a second plate 38 (Fig. 1) which rests in the frame immediately below the glass cover plate l4, Two numeral bearing dials 39 and 4| are rotatably supported immediately above plate 38, said dials being fixedly secured to the upper ends of shafts 42 and 43, respectively, the latter extending downwardly through plate 35. The lower ends of said shafts are journalled in brackets 44 (Fig, '7), which extend inwardly from frame members 36. The peripheral portions of each of the dials 39 and 4| are divided into twenty-five segments, each of which bears one of the numerals of the group 2, 4, 8, l2 and 20. A pair of somewhat smaller dials or disks 45 and 46 are rotatably supported above plate 38 immediately adjacent the dials 39 and 4|, said dials being fixedly secured to the upper ends of shafts 41' and 48, respectively, the latter being journalled in a plate 49 which, in turn, is mounted on a cross bar 5| which extends between frame members 36. The opposite ends of plate 49 are bent upwardly to provide end walls 52. A bar 53, extending between end plates 52, and spaced somewhat above plate 49 is apertured to receive shafts "and 48, and provides a second bearing support for the latter. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that dials 45 and 46 are each divided into twelve segments, two of which are colored red, three of which are colored green, three of which are colored yellow, and the remaining four of which are colored blue. These colors correspond to the four colors red, green, yellow and blue, which are used to identify the several openings on playing board l5.

A stationary arrow or pointer 54 is positioned on plate 38 between dials 39 and 45. One end 55 of this pointer is positioned immediately adjacent the periphery of dial 39. The other end 56 of said pointer is positioned immediately adjacent the periphery of dial 45. This pointer serves to identify or correlate a particular color segment on the dial 45 With one of the numbers on the dial 39. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1, dial 45 is so positioned that one of the'blue segments thereon lies opposite the end 56 of the pointer, and dial 39 is so positioned that the numeral |2 thereon lies opposite the end 55 of the pointer. In this position therefore, the blue segment on dial 45, which corresponds to the blue fields surrounding the board openings I8, is identified with the numeral |2 on dial 39. When dials 39 and 45 are in this position the rules of the game instruct the player to attempt to shoot a ball into one of the openings |8, which are identified by blue, and if he is successful he will be credited with twelve points, this being the number on the lower dial 39 which lies opposite the pointer 54. Dials 4| and 46 are duplications of dials 39 and 45, respectively, and as will presentiy appear, the two sets are arranged for alternate operation. An arrow or pointer 57 is provided on plate 38 between dials 4| and 46, said pointer serving to identify a particular color segment on dial 46 with a particular number on dial 4|. As just explained, the sets of dials 39, 45 and 4|, 46 are arranged to be used alternately on successive plays. A movable pointer 58 is positioned between dials 39 and 4|, being fixedly secured to the upper end of a shaft 59 which is journalled at its lower end in a bracket 6|, the latter being secured by screws 62 to frame plate 35. As will more fully hereinafter appear, pointer 58 is adapted to be moved through a limited are from the position shown in Fig. 1, in which it points to dial 45, to position adjacent dial 4| in which it points toward dial 46.

The provision of duplicate sets of the color and numeral bearing dials is for the purpose of indicating to the player in advance of each play the opening on the board into which he must place the ball, and the point or score which he will make if he succeeds in directing the ball to such opening. For example, in Fig. 1 pointer 58 is directed to the color dial 45, which means that on the next play the player should attempt to direct a ball into one of the board openings I8, this being the color on dial 45 which is opposite pointer 54. If he succeeds in putting the ball into one of such openings he will receive a score of I 2, this being the number on dial 39 which is opposite pointer 54. In operating lever 33 to re lease the ball preparatory to making a shot the dials 4 46 are automatically spun by mechanism presently to be described, these dials being brought to rest with one of the color segments on dial 46 opposite pointer 51 and with one of the numbers on dial 4| opposite said pointer. By the time dials 4| and 46 have been brought to rest pointer 58 will have been moved to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a position to which it is directed toward dial 46, thereby indicating that upon the next succeedng play the operator should refer to the set of dials 4|, 46 to determine the shot which is necessary to make in order to obtain the score indicated by dial 4|.

A description will now be given of the mechanism which is provided for alternatelyspinning the sets of dials 39, 45-4I, 46 and for turning pointer 58 from one set of dials to the other upon succeeding plays. Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, shaft 42, upon which dial 39 is mounted, is provided immediately above plate 35 with a ratchet wheel 63 which is fixedly secured to said shaft. Shaft 43 which carries dial 4| is similarly provided with a ratch wheel 64. Wheel 63 is driven by a pawl 65 which is pivoted at 66 to a sliding plate 61, the latter being supported on plate 35 between tracks or guide strips 68 and 69. A compression spring 1| extending between pawl 65 and plate 61 urges said pawl toward ratchet wheel 63, movement of the pawl under the action of said spring being limited by a stop pin 12 carried by plate 61. The sliding plate 61 is yieldingly held in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by a coil spring 13 which is connected at one end to a lug 14 formed on said plate 61, the other end thereof being connected to a frame bracket 15. It will be apparent that when plate 61 is shifted to the left from the position shown in Fig. 2, pawl 65 will brush past ratchet wheel 63, and that on the return stroke of said plate the pawl will strike the teeth of said wheel 63. As will presently appear, this return movement of plate 61 is very rapid so that pawl 65 will strike ratchet wheel 63 with sufficient force to effect a spinning thereof together with shaft 42 and dial 39. Ratchet wheel 63 is spun by pawl 65 in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2, against the tension of a pair of spring strips 16 which engage against the teeth of said wheel to prevent overrun and to insure that the wheel will always be stopped in such position that one of the numbered segments on dial 39 will lie exactly opposite pointer 54. These spring strips are secured in a block 11 which is carried by frame plate 49. They are backed by a rigid bar 18 which stiffens them sufficiently to prevent back spin of wheel 63.

Continuing the reference to Figs. 2 and 3, color disk 45 is also spun by mechanism which is operated from the sliding plate 61. In the embodiment shown this mechanism comprises: A gear wheel 19 which is fixedly secured to shaft 41, and a lever 8| which is fulcrumed at 82 to a bar 83 which extends between the ends 52 of frame plate 49. One end of lever 8| carries a series of teeth 94, which are cut to mesh with the teeth of gear wheel 19, and the other end 85 of said lever bears against a lug 86 which projects upwardly from the sliding plate 61. Said lever BI is urged in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2, by a coil spring 81, one end of which connects with a pin 88 on the lever 8 I, the other end of said spring connecting with a pin 89 which is carried by a second lever 9|, the latter being fulcrumed at 92 on bar 83. As the sliding plate 61 is shifted to the left from the position shown in Fig. 2, lever 8| will be pivoted in a clockwise direction by lug 86 to carry teeth 84 across the teeth of gear wheel 19. The turning of said wheel 19 thus produced is quite slow, inasmuch as plate 61 is moved rather slowly through its advance stroke. On the return stroke of plate 61 the teeth 84 on lever 8| are moved across the teeth on gear wheel 19 very rapidly, to produce a spinning of wheel 19, shaft 41 and dial 45 in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2. A pawl arm 93, pivotally supported from frame plate 49, is yieldingly pressed against the teeth of gear wheel 19 by a leaf spring 94, said arm serving to insure that shaft 41 will be stopped in such position that one of the color segments on dial 45 will come to rest exactly opposite pointer 54. It will thus be seen that the numeral bearing dial 89 and the color dial 45 will be spun simultaneously by movement of the sliding plate 61 through its return stroke, and that said dials will be broughtv to rest in a position such as that shown in Fig. 1, wherein one of the color segments on dial 45 and one of the numeral bearing segments on dial 39 are aligned with pointer 54. Dials 4| and 46 are spun simultaneously by mechanism which is substantially a duplication of the mechanism which has just been described for the dials 39, 45. Since this mechanism is almost exactly like the mechanism already described, it need not be described in detail. It comprises: a sliding plate 95 which is slidably supported on frame plate 35; a springheld pawl 96 positioned on plate 95 adjacent ratchet wheel 64 which is fixedly secured to shaft 43; and the lever 9|, previously mentioned, the toothed end 98 of which is positioned to engage the teeth of a gear wheel 99 which is fixed to shaft 48.

Sliding plate 95 is urged to the right, viewing Fig. 2, by a heavy coil spring I III which extends between a lug I92 carried on one end of said plate and frame bracket 15. Lever 9| is actuated from plate 95 by an upwardly projecting lug I03 which engages a rounded end I04 on said lever 9|, the latter being yieldingly held against said lug I 93 by coil spring 81. It will be evident that in moving to the left from the position shown in Fig. 2, plate 95 will carry pawl 96 and the toothed end of lever 9| into such position that, upon a rapid return stroke of said plate, pawl 96 will engage ratchet wheel 64 to spin the numbered dial 4|, and at the same time the toothed end 98 of lever 9| will engage gear wheel 99 tospin the color dial 46. Spring arms I95 serve to stop dial 4| in a position in which one of the numerals thereon is aligned with pointer 51, and similarly a spring pressed pawl I96 stops gear wheel 99 in such a position that one of the color segments on dial 46 is exactly aligned with pointer 51.

The mechanism for producing alternate reciprocations of the sliding plates 61 and 95 to effect alternate spinning of the sets of dials 39, 454I, 46, will now be described, reference being particularly had to Figs. 4, and 8. A crank arm I91, fixedly secured to shaft 3| is provided at its free end with a lug I69 which is adapted to engage a pin I99 which projects forwardly from a vertically disposed arm I I I, the latter being pivoted at its lower end to a pin II2 which projects forwardly from a vertically disposed frame plate I I3, said plate H3 being, in turn, supported from a transverse frame member II4 by a double angle bracket H5. The swing of arm III about its point of pivotal support is limited by rubber covered stops I I6 which project forwardly from plate II3. An arm H1 is secured by bolts II8 to the rear face of arm III, said arm II1 being spaced from the upper end of arm I I through provision of a bent or shouldered portion II!) in said arm II1. Between the upper ends of arms III and I I1 there is rotatably supported a drive unit consisting of two toothed wheels I2I and I22, between which is disposed a ratchet wheel I23. These three wheels are all pinned together by pins |24 (Fig. 8) and are supported for rotation as a unit on a short shaft I25, the ends of which are journalled in the upper ends of arms III and I I1. Toothed wheel I2! is provided with two diametrically disposed teeth I26, each of which is provided with a squared face I 21 which terminates in an inwardly curved back face I28. Toothed wheel I22 is likewise provided with two diametrically disposed teeth I29 which are of the same shape as the teeth I26 on wheel I2I. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the wheels PM and I 22 are so positioned that teeth I29 are disposed from teeth I26.

The ratchet wheel I23 which lies between wheels I2I and I22 is provided with four squared teeth or notches I3I which are engaged by an arm I32 of a pawl I33 which is pivoted at I34 to the inner face of arm III, the other arm I35 of said pawl being yieldingly connected to the shoulder portion II!) of arm II1 by a coil spring I36, said spring serving to urge arm I32 against the teeth of ratchet wheel I 23.

Continuing the reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 8, sliding plate 61 carries a downwardly projecting lug I31 which extends into the path of the teeth I26 on wheel I2I. Similarly sliding plate carries a downwardly projecting lug I38 which extends into the path of the teeth I 29 on wheel I22. When the operator depresses lever 33 (Fig. 1) lug I88 on crank I81 will strike pin I89 on arm III, thereby swinging the latter in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4. During this movement the uppermost of the teeth I26 on wheel I2I will engage lug I31 on the sliding plate 61 and as the arm I I I swings to the left said plate 61 will be moved to the left, the pawl I33 engaging ratchet wheel I23 to prevent a back or clockwise turning of wheel I 2I by reason of the resistance offered thereto by sliding plate 81. As arm III moves toward the left, viewing Fig. 4, the upper edge of tooth I26 will move along an are indicated by the dot and dash line I33, and. as said arm III approaches the end of its swing to the left tooth I26 will finally be moved downwardly to clear lug I31, whereupon plate 61 is snapped back to the right by coil spring 13. This movement of said plate 61, as previously explained, spins the set of dials 39, 45. When the operator removes his hand from lever 33 crank arm I81 and arm III are returned to normal position through the action of a heavy coil spring I4I which extends between an arm III and a fixed point on the frame. During this return swing of arm HI an angle bracket I42, which is secured to the depending lug I31 on plate 61, is struck by a shoulder portion I43 on the tooth I26 which has just cleared said lug I31. As arm III completes its return movement to the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 4 bracket I42, through its engagement with tooth I26, will turn toothed wheel I2I, together with wheel I 22 and ratchet wheel I23 in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4, through an angle of 90 or until a succeeding one of the teeth I3I on pawl I23 has moved into engagement with arm I32 on pawl I33. This turning of the drive unit comprising wheels I2I, I22 and ratchet wheel I 23, through one quarter of a revolution, will bring one of the teeth I29 on wheel I22 to the uppermost position so that on the next swing of arm iII to the left said tooth I29 will engage the downwardly projecting lug I38 on sliding plate 95, thereby moving the latter to the left until the tooth I29 clears lug I38. As soon as this occurs the sliding plate 95 will be returned by a snapping action to the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 3, which movement, as previously explained, produces a spinning of the set of dials M, 46. During the second return stroke of arm III the tooth I29, which has been in the uppermost position, will strike an angle bracket I44 which is secured to lug I38, thereby producing another rotation of Wheels I2I, I22 and ratchet wheel I23 through a quarter of a revolution. In this manner successive actuations of crank I81 will produce alternate actuations of the sliding plates 61 and 95. This, in turn, results in alternate spinning of the sets of dials 39, 45, each pair of dials remaining stationary on every other play.

Mechanism is provided on the sliding plates 61 and 95 for turning the pointer 58 toward the pair of dials which show the play which the operator must make to obtain a score. Referring to Figs. 3-5, the lower end of shaft 59 carries a plate I45, from which depends a pair of pins I46 and I41, said pins being diametrically disposed with respect to shaft 59. Pin I46 is positioned to be engaged by a plunger I48, which is supported on sliding plate 61, the stem portion of said plunger extending through lug 86 and a second lug I49 carried by plate 61. A coil spring I5I disposed between lug 86 and a collar I52 on the stem of plunger I48 yieldingly holds said plunger in the position shown in Fig. 3. The head of the plunger carries a spring clip I53 which is adapted to engage over pin I48. Assuming pointer 58 is directed toward the pair of dials 4|, 46 so that pins I46 and I41 are in the position shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 3, it will be evident that when plate 61 is moved to the left clip l53 will engage over pin I46, and upon the return stroke of plate 61 will pull on pin I46, moving it to the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 3, thereby swinging pointer 58 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Pointer 58 is thus turned toward dials 39, 45 on the same operation in which the latter are spun. Similarly, the sliding plate 95 is provided with a plunger I54 (Fig. 3), which is of the same type as the plunger I48 on plate 61, a spring clip I55 carried by said plunger engaging pinv I41 to move it from the solid to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 when the sliding plate 95 is moved to'efiect spinning of dials 4!, 46. The plungers I48, I54 thus operate to direct pointer 58 toward the pair of dials which have been adjusted to indicate the color-score combination for the next play. The double set of dials which are arranged for alternate operation, together with pointer 58, thus provide means for pro-indicating to the operator a particular board opening which he should attempt to shoot for on the next play, and also indicates to him the point or score which he will obtain if he succeeds in making the play indicated.

The connection between shaft 3I (Fig. 1) and the sliding gate board (not shown) which releases the ball from the playing board is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and consists of a bell crank 255 which is fulcrumed by a shoulder screw 25I to a bracket 252 projecting rearwardly from plate II5. One arm 253 of crank 258 carries a forwardly projecting pin 254 which lies in the path of movement of arm I I I. The other arm 255 of said bell crank is pivotally connected by a pin 256 to a rearwardly projecting bar 251 which connects with the gate board. When the operator turns shaft 3I (Fig. l) by depressing arm 33 (Fig. 1) arm III swings to the left, viewing Fig. 4, striking pin 254 and pivoting bell crank 250 to move arm 255 and bar 251 rearwardly. This rearward movement of bar 251 brings the holes in the gate panel into registration with the board openings and allows the played ball to fall through the board and to thence return tothe elevating mechanism. The gate panel is returned by spring action to its normal locked position. In returning to that position it moves bell crank 258 back to the normal position shown in Fig. 4. Details of construction of a shifting gate panel suitable for use in a game of this type are shown in my prior Patent No. 2,074,513 issued March 23, 1937.

I prefer to provide in combination with the variable score indicating mechanism which has just been described, an automatic check or token delivery device which will operate to dispense tokens to the operator in numbers corresponding to the score obtained. The general scheme of operation of this token dispenser will be best understood by first referring to the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 9. In this diagram the numerals I 56, I51, I58, I59 and I60indicate individual, electrically operated token dispensing devices which. may be of any desired form, the devices I56 and I51 each being adapted to dispense two tokens upon each operation thereof. The devices I58 and I59 are each adapted to dispense four tokens upon each operation thereof, and device I60 is adapted to dispense eight tokens upon each operation thereof. A suitable dispensing device for use in this connection is shown in my Patent No. 2,119,340, issued May 31, 1938. Numerals I6! and I62 indicate generally a pair of rotating disks which are fixed to shafts 41 and 48, respectively. Each of these disks comprises a fiber plate I63 (Fig. 5) which is covered by a sheet metal plate I64. A series of metal pins I65 extend through plate I63, the upper ends of said pins being anchored in the metal plate I64, and the lower ends of said pins projecting below plate I63 so that they may be engaged by switch arms I66 which are secured by screws I61 to frame plate 49, being insulated from the latter by a fiber strip I68 (Fig. 5). There are four of the switch arms I66 for each of the disks I6I and I62, and the pins I65 are positioned at various distances from the center of plate I63 so that they will strike the upwardly bent end portions I69 of the arms I66. The metal plate I64 serves as a common terminal for all of the pins I65. This plate is in continuous contact with a switch arm I1I which is supported from a bracket I12, the latter being supported from bar 53. It will be understood that the disks I6I and I62 are stopped in such position by pawl arms 93 and I06, respectively, that one of the pins I65 will be in engagement with one of the switch arms I66.

Continuing the reference to Figs. 7 and 9, the numeral I13 and I14 refer generally to contact disks which are fixedly secured to shafts 42 and 43, respectively. Each of these disks comprises a fiber plate I15, to the upper face of which is secured a small circular metal plate I 16, from which project a plurality of radial arms I11. Positioned above each disk is a series of four switch arms I18 which are supported upon frame brackets I19 immediately above the metal plates I16. The free ends of the arms I18 are provided with downwardly flexed portions I8I (Fig. 6) which engage the radial arms I11, the latter being of various lengths to correspond to the spacing of the arms I18 from the centers of disks I13 and I14. Additional switch arms I82 are supported from brackets I19 adjacent the innermost of the arms I18, the free ends of the arms I82 resting in contact with plates I16 to form a continuous circuit therewith.

The four separate series of circuits through each of the contact disks I13, I6I and I14, I62 will now be traced on Fig. 9. Each of the board openings I8, 2I, 23 and 25 corresponding to the colors blue, green, yellow and red, respectively,

are provided with ball actuated switches (not shown) which are adapted to be closed under the weight of a ball which drops into one of such openings. Considering first the opening I8 for the blue, upon closing of the switch for that opening, current is supplied from a battery I83 through a wire I84 and the switch for opening I8 to a wire I85 which connects with the outermost oi the switch arms I66 for disk I6I. If color dial is positioned so that the blue segment thereon is opposite pointer 54 (Fig. 1), one of the pins I65 on disk I6I will rest in contact with the outermost of the switch arms I66 to complete a circuit to the switch arm I1I for disk I6I, the latter connecting through a wire I66 with the switch arm I62 for disk I13. Assuming that the numeral bearing disk 39 (Fig. 1) has been so stopped that numeral 20 lies opposite pointer 54, the longest of the arms I11 on disk i13 will rest in contact with all four of the switch arms I10, which means that current will be supplied to all four of the wires I81, I88, I89 and I99, the latter connecting through double throw switches I9I, I92, I93 and I94, and wires I95, I96, I91 and I98, respectively, with token dispensers I51, I58, I59 and I60, respectively. These four separate dispensing devices are connected to the return line I99 through leads 25H. These four dispensing devices combinedly deliver eighteen tokens. However, the dispensing device I56, which dispenses two tokens, is arranged to be actuated simultaneously with actuation with any one of the other dispensing devices. The circuit through the device I56 is traced from the switch arm I1I for disk I6I through a wire 202 which connects with a switch arm 2 I6 of a double throw switch 204, the center contact arm 205 of which connects to the dispensing device I56 through a wire 206. The return from device I56 is through a lead 201 which connects with the common return I99. The two tokens dispensed by the device I56 supplement the eighteen tokens which are dispensed by the four devices I51-I 60, so that twenty tokens are delivered when a ball rolls through the opening I8 provided the dials 39, 45 are so positioned that the numeral 20 is identified with the blue segment on the dial 45.

It will be evident, however, that the point or score of 20 could be obtained for any one of the other colors provided dial 45 came to rest in the correct position and provided further that the operator placed the ball in the opening for the color which lies opposite the pointer 54 at the time the latter points to the numeral 20 on dial 39. For example, if the green segment falls opposite thepointer 54 at the time the numeral 20 lies opposite such pointer, the operator will obtain twenty tokens upon directing a ball into opening 2|, in that case the circuit being completed to switch arm I1I for disk I6I through wi-re I84, the switch for opening 2I, and a wire 208 which connects with the next to the outermost of the arms I66 for disk I6I. The balance of the circuit through the four dispensing devices I51-I60 is the same as just described for opening I8 for the blue. Similarly the switches associated with the yellow opening 23 and the red opening 25 are connected by wires 209 and 2, respectively, with the two innermost of the switch arms I66 for disk I6I. If it so happened that the disk I13 were stopped in such a position that one of the shorter arms I11, as for example, the arm which reaches but three of the switch arms I18, came into contact with the latter, the numeral 12 on dial 39 would fall opposite pointer 54. In that case only the three dispensing devices I51, I58 and I59 would be energized through disk I13, the circuit through the device I60 remaining open. The device I56 would, of course, be energized through disk I 6| and double throw switch 204, so that twelve tokens would be dispensed, provided the operator succeeded in placing a ball into the opening corresponding to the color on dial 45 which is positioned opposite pointer 54. It is thus evident that the circuit permits of variation both in the number of tokens obtained for a particular color, as well as variation in the different colors which may be played to obtain a specified number of tokens.

In view of the description which has just been given for the circuits through the disks I6I, I13, it is believed that the corresponding circuits for the duplicate set of disks I62, I14 can be readily traced. When the I14, I62 set is in use, corresponding to the dials 4|, 46, the double throw switches I9I-I94 are moved to the solid line position shown in Fig. 9 to connect the devices I51-I60 to the switch arms I18 for disk I14, the four wires providing this connection from said switches being indicated by the numerals 2 I2, 2I3, 2 I4 and 2| 5, respectively. Also when the set of dials M, 46 is in use the double throw switch 204 is moved to the left, reviewing Fig. 9, by mechanism presently to be described, so that the arm 205 thereof engages a contact arm 203, thereby completing a circuit from the arm I1I for disk I62 to the wire 206 which energizes dispensing device I56. Various combinations which are obtainable with the dials 39, 45 and their associated'disks I13, I6I may likewise be obtained with the duplicate set of dials 4|, 46 and their associated disks I14, I62.

The double throw switches I9I-I94 and the two-way switch 204 are operated from the plate I45, which it will be recalled, also operates pointer 58. This mechanism is shown in Figs. 2 and 5 from which it will be noted that the center contact arm 205 of switch 204 is supported from a fiber block 2I1 in such position that the free end 2I8 thereof is engaged by a pin 2I9 which projects downwardly from plate I45. When pointer 58 is in the position shown in Figs.1 and 2, pin 2I9 is in such position that it holds arm 205 in contact with switch arm 203, thereby completing a circuit from the disk I62 for dial 46 through the dispensing device I56 (Fig. 9). When pointer 58 is turned toward dial 46, pin 2I9 is moved away from switch arm 205, allowing the latter to move against switch arm 2I6, thereby completing a circuit through the disk I6I for dial 45 to the dispensing device I56 (Fig. 9). The switch 204 is thus automatically closed by movement of the pointer 58 to connect the device I56 in circuit with the appropriate pair of contact disks.

' Continuing the reference to Figs, 2 and 5, the double throw switches I9I-I94 each consist of a link 22I which is pivoted at 222 to a fiber plate 223, the latter being rigidly supported on frame member 36. The lead wires I-I98 connect with lugs 224 which project outwardly from the underface of plate 223. The other ends of links 22I are pivotally connected to pins 225 which are carried by a bar 226, one end of the latter being pivotally connected 'by a pin 221 with the pin 219. The pins 225 are suitably insulated from one another on the bar 226 and project below the latter (see Fig. 5), so that the lower ends thereof will engage terminals 228 which are carried on a terminal block 229, the latter being supported from plate 223 by a hanger 23I. The terminals 228 are arranged in groups of four, one group connecting with the wires I81-I98 (Fig. 9), and the other group connecting with the wires 2I2-2I5. With pointer 58 in the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 2, the links 221 are positioned so that the circuit is completed through the group of terminals 228 which are connected with the wires leading to disk I14, this being the disk which controls the circuit for dials 4|, 46. When the pointer 58 is thrown to the left from Fig. 2 toward disk 46 bar 226 Will be shifted to the right to move links 221 into circuit closing position with the terminals 228 which are shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby completing the circuit to the wires which are associated with the switch control disk I13 for dial 39. The four switches I9I-I94 and the switch 264 are thus automatically controlled by pointer 58 to place the control circuits in condition for operating the five token dispensing devices from either set of dials.

The operation may be briefly summarized as follows: Assuming the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, the operator steps to the table and observes that the pointer 58 is directed toward the colored dial 45. He further notes that this dial is positioned with one of the blue segments opposite pointer 54, and that dial 39 is positioned with the numeral 12 opposite said pointer. He is thus informed before he makes the play that in order to make a score of 12 he should attempt to shoot the ball into one of the openings I8 which are identified on the board by the color blue. He accordingly introduces a suitable coin or check into the machine through the coin slot plate 34 to eifect release of operating lever 33. Upon depressing the latter the gate board (not shown) is shifted to release the previously played ball which then rolls toward the head of the table to the elevating device (not shown). -By depressing lever 33 the operator also spins the set of dials 4|, 46, this being accomplished through the turning of shaft 3| which connects through the crank I01 (Fig. 5) with arm I I I, the latter being shifted to the left, viewing Fig. 4, to carry sliding plate 95 into such position that upon'the return stroke thereof pawl 96 will strike ratchet wheel 64 (Fig. 2) to spin dial 4I. At the same time arm 9I will spin dial 46. These two dials spin freely, being finally brought to rest with one of the numerals on dial 4I opposite pointer 51 and with one of the color segments on dial 46 positioned opposite the other end of the pointer 51. As the sliding plate 95 returns to the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 2, the spring finger I55 (Fig. 3) engages the pin I 41 to pivot plate I 45 and pointer 58 to the left, viewing Fig. 1, so that said pointer is directed toward dial 46. The operator is thus informed that on the next play he must look to the set of dials 4I, 46 for instructions as to the color for which he should shoot, and the score which he will obtain if he succeeds in making the shot indicated. Having depressed lever 33 to release the ball, the operator then raises the ball onto the board by pushing inwardly on plunger 29, after which he drives the ball onto the board by operating-ball projecting plunger I6. If the ball so projected falls into one of the openings I8 a circuit will be completed through the four token dispensing devices I56-I59, with the result that twelve tokens will be delivered corresponding to the indicated score of l2 on the dial 39. The shifting of the pointer 58 to the set of dials 4|, 46 moves the double throw switches Isl-I94 (Fig. 9) and the two-way switch 204 into circuit closing position for the dials 39, 45, so that the circuits for that set of dials are conditioned to operate the token dispensing devices to give tokens in accordance with the number indicated by dial 39. v

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pin ball game apparatus the combination with a playing board having a plurality of ball receiving openings therein which are marked to distinguish them from one another, a playing ball, means for controlling the movement of said ball including a manually operable control member and a projecting device of a rotatable dial having indicia thereon corresponding to the markings of the board openings, a second rotatable dial disposed adjacent said first dial, said second dial having a series of numbers thereon indicating points or scores, a reference indicator disposed adjacent said dials for correlating their positions of rest to show the number on the score indicating dial corresponding to a particular indicia on the other dial, and means operable by the game apparatus prior to the completion of its cycle of operations for changing the relative positions of rest of said dials to thereby change the point or score indicated for a particular indicia and its corresponding opening in the playing board.

2. In a pin ball game apparatus the combination with a playing board having a plurality of ball receiving openings therein which are marked to distinguish them from one another, of a rotatable dial having indicia thereon corresponding to the markings of the board openings, a second rotatable dial disposed adjacent said first dial, said second dial having a series of numbers thereon indicating points or scores, a reference indicator disposed adjacent said dials for correlating their positions of rest to show the number on the score indicating dial corresponding to a particular ballreceiving opening identified by the other dial, means for changing the relative positions of rest of said dials to thereby change the point or score indicated for a particular indicia and its corresponding opening in the playing board, means operative upon each play in which a ball is placed in the indicated opening to dispense tokens to the operator in number corresponding to the score indicated for that opening, and means operable by said dial adjusting means for resetting said dispensing means to cause the same to dispense on the next operation a different number of tokens corresponding to the changed point or score indicated on said second dial, provided the ball comes to rest in an opening indicated by the first dial in the changed position thereof.

3. In a pin ball game apparatus the combination with a playing board having a plurality of ball receiving openings therein which are marked with various colors to distinguish them from one another, of a rotatable dial having colored segments thereon corresponding to the various colors which identify the board openings, a second rotatable dial disposed adjacent said first dial, said second dial having a series of numbers thereon indicating points or scores, a reference indicator disposed adjacent said dials for correlating their positions of rest to show the number on the score indicating dial to be assigned to the ball-receiving opening bearing the same color as the indicated color segment on the colored dial, and means for changing the relative positions of rest of the dials to thereby change the point or score indicated for a particular color and the corresponding opening in the playing board.

4. In an amusement apparatus, the combination of a playing element, mechanism operable by the player to control said element, including means for setting the same in motion, said element being adapted to come to rest in one of a number of possible positions, means for indicating to the player in advance of each play a score to be sought, means for also indicating in advance of the play the position to which said element should be moved to obtain said score, a scoring device actuated by said element when brought to rest in a scoring position, means for correlating said score indicating means and said position indicating means whereby the scoring device may be actuated in accordance with the indicated score notwithstanding adjustments of said score indicating means and said position indicating means to cause them to indicate a different score and position respectively, and means operated by said controlling mechanism for adjusting said score indicating means in advance of each play.

5. In an amusement apparatus, the combination of a playing element, mechanism operable by the player to control said element, including means for setting the same in motion, said element being adapted to come to rest in one of a number of possible positions, means for indicating to the player in advance of each play a score to be sought, means for also indicating in advance of the play the position to which said element should be moved to obtain said score, a scoring device actuated by said element when brought to rest in a scoring position, means for correlating said score indicating means and said position indicating means, whereby the scoring device may be actuated in accordance with the indicated score notwithstanding adjustments of said score indicating means and said position indicating means to cause them to indicate a different score and position respectively, and means operated by said controlling mechanism for adjusting said position indicating means in advance of each play.

6. In an amusement apparatus, the combination of a playing element, mechanism operable by the player to control said element, including means for setting the same in motion, said element being adapted to come to rest in one of a number of possible positions, means for indicating to the player in advance of each play a score to be sought, means for also indicating in advance of the play the position to which said element should be moved to obtain said score, a scoring device actuated by said element when brought to rest in a scoring position, means for correlating said score indicating means and said position indicating means whereby the scoring device may be actuated in accordance with the indicated score notwithstanding adjustments of said score indicating means and said position indicating means to cause them to indicate a different score and position respectively, means operated by said controlling mechanism for adjusting said score indicating means in advance of each play, and means also operated by said controlling mechanism for adjusting said position indicating means in advance of each play.

7. In an amusement apparatus the combination with a playing element which is adapted to be moved and brought to rest at any one of a number of possible positions, a limited number of which are scoring positions during any given cycle of play, mechanism operable by the operator to control said element, including means for setting the same in motion, and means for indicating the particular position in which said element has been brought to rest, of a play and score indicating mechanism comprising means for indicating to the operator, in advance of each play, the position in which said element should be brought to.

rest in order to obtain a score and the point 01- score which will be obtained if the element is brought to rest in that position, and mechanical means interconnected with said controlling mechanism and automatically operable as an incident to the normal operation of the latter for adjusting said play and score indicating mechanism to change the position indicated as being required of said element for the next play to obtain the indicated score.

8. In an amusement apparatus the combination with a playing element which is adapted to be moved and brought to rest at any one of a number of possible positions, a limited number of which are scoring positions during any given cycle of play, mechanism operable by the operator to control said element, including means for setting the same in motion, and means for indicating the particular position in which said element has been brought to rest, of a play and score indicating mechanism comprising means for indicating to the operator, in advance of each play, both the position in which said element should be brought to rest in order to obtain a score and the point or score which will be obtained if the element is brought to rest in that position, and mechanical means interconnected with said controlling mechanism and automatically operable as an incident to the normal operation of the latter for adjusting said play and score indicating mechanism to change both the score indicated as being obtainable and the position indicated as being required of said element for the next play toobtain the indicated score.

9. In an amusement apparatus the combination with a playing element which is adapted to be moved and brought to rest at any one of a number of possible positions, a limited number of which are scoring positions during any given cycle of play, and mechanism operable by the operator to control said element, of a play and score indicating mechanism comprising means for indicating to the operator, in advance of each play, both the position in which said element should be brought to rest in order to obtain a score and the point or score which will be obtained if the element is brought to rest in that position, and mechanical means interconnected With said controlling mechanism and automatically operable as an incident to the normal operation of the latter for adjusting said play and score indicating mechanism to change both the score indicated as being obtainable and the position indicated as being required of said element for the next play to obtain the indicated score. 10. In a pin ball game, a playing board having a number of ball-receiving holes indicated by difierent colored areas in the respective regions of the holes, a playing ball, means for controlling the movement of said ball, including a device for projecting the same onto the board and into one or another of said holes, scoring means associated With said holes and operable by the ball when in a hole indicated by the mechanism hereinafter described as a scoring hole on a particular play, an indicator dial having colored segments therein corresponding to the different colored areas as sociated with the holes in the board, a score indicating dial having numerals thereon, mechanism operable by said controlling means at predetermined times to spin said dials, a two-way pointer between said dials adapted to indicate a colored segment on the one and a number on the other determined by the positions in which they happen to come to rest, and means controlled by the positions of rest of said dials for causing operation of said scoring means when the ball enters a hole identified by a color corresponding to thatof the indicated segment on said first mentioned dial to register a score corresponding to the indicated number on the second mentioned dial.

BERT E. MILLS. 

